Audemars Piguet is making headlines again—but not because of civic unrest sparked by candy-colored pocket watches dangling from lanyards. The Swiss watchmaker has expanded its Royal Oak Offshore lineup with three new 37 mm Selfwinding Chronograph models. The new Calibre 6401 movement allows for a slimmer case profile in this latest generation of Offshores. Sapphire casebacks showcase AP’s famously beautiful movements, including a rhodium-toned 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight. Two of the new Offshores references come in titanium—including one with a diamond-set bezel—and a third in 18-carat pink gold.
The Royal Oak sits at the tippy-top of my list of dream watches. I admire the way Audemars Piguet juxtaposes a rugged case design—that iconic octagonal bezel and exposed screws evocative of industrial machinery—with delicately finished dials and movements. Like a Cartier Tank or Rolex Daytona, the Royal Oak is instantly recognizable from across a room. It has none of the old-money understatement of a Patek Philippe. Instead, it’s unapologetically glitzy wrist candy—a timepiece favored by hedge-fund titans, startup founders, and professional athletes. There’s a reason the showrunners of Billions strapped a Royal Oak onto Bobby Axelrod, television’s definitive hedge-fund pirate.
Before this release, my main gripe with the Royal Oak Offshore was its size. I have slim wrists, and large watches don’t flatter me. Many of the collection’s most coveted references measure 42 mm or larger—dimensions that make me look like I’m carrying a hubcap. These new 37 mm models hit the sweet spot for a fellow with a 6.5-inch wrist. Thanks to the smaller Calibre 6401 movement, the case profile is noticeably sleeker than previous generations. The new Offshore retains its sporty DNA but exudes an elegance that borders on dress-watch territory.
